Spartans Escape With Victory Against Women's Basketball

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The Barry University women’s basketball team had the start they wanted. After building a 16-point halftime lead, the Bucs then watched as Tampa came back to force overtime and eventually defeat Barry in Sunshine State Conference play, 60-59, Saturday afternoon at the Health and Sports Center.

The Bucs (14-9, 5-7 SSC) came out full of emotion from the opening tip, as a three-pointer by Shanna Suttington nine minutes in had Barry ahead by eight.

The attack kept coming, as Kristy Singletary nailed a trey at the 7:30 mark to expand the lead to 14.

After Tampa (18-5, 8-4 SSC) chipped the lead down to 11, the Bucs would close the half with authority, as Lucy Martinez drove inside for a layup and ended the half with another layup in traffic to give the Bucs a 16-point spread at the break.

The second half continued to go in favor of the Bucs, as Barry even ballooned the lead to 18 just three minutes in on a jumper by Mariesa Greene.

The Spartans began their comeback with nine minutes to play in the game, as Sarah Wickham canned a trey to cut the lead to 10. Wickham then followed that effort up with another three-pointer just 30 seconds later to make it a seven-point contest.

Barry would capitalize on a couple of offensive rebounds after missed free throws to help keep their lead at three with one-minute to play.

With the Bucs still ahead by two, the game looked to be in hand after the Spartans missed a three-point attempt and missed again on the follow shot, which left just five seconds on the clock.

After Greene split a pair of free throws at the line, the Spartans were faced with one finally heave down three. Gianna Messina promptly carried the ball into the front court and after a pump-fake got her defender in the air, she let it fly from downtown in which she hit the shot at the buzzer sending the game to overtime.

Tampa quickly built a five-point lead in the extra session, but Barry cut the lead to two after Singletary hit a three with a minute to play.

Martinez then split a pair of free throws with five seconds left to make it a one-point game.

Tampa looked to run out the clock, but turned the ball over after Martinez’s made free throw, which gave the Bucs a chance for the win, but the following three-pointer by Martinez just missed as the buzzer sounded.

Greene just missed a double-double, as she tallied 19 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Martinez had a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards.

Gianna Messina came to life for the Spartans, as she led the team with 17 points and eight rebounds. Tiara Cooke tallied a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.